Pyometra - what is it?

[Mollz Mum]

Originally Posted by Bailey-Benji

I never realised pyometra was so common. My mum's friend's son's hamster died of that too I've seen a few cases on another hamster forum too.

Slight different note, should I move it to health??

But can anyone tell me what pyometra is? What are the symptoms and is it something that a vet would recognise?

[I_am_plankton]

Originally Posted by Mollz' Mum

But can anyone tell me what pyometra is? What are the symptoms and is it something that a vet would recognise?

Pyometra is a womb infection and can only occur in females. There are 2 types: closed pyometra and open pyometra. Closed pyometra is harder to spot as the tummy area swells up because the womb is filling up with pus but has nowhere to go or flush out so hence the swelling. It is sometimes mistaken for a tumour. Open pyometra is where the pus and blood can come out through the vaginal opening and is very obvious when the discharge keeps coming, the hamster is lethargic and the tummy feels hard.

My vet recognised it straight away and we had a few courses of baytril, but unfortunately Lily was too old for an op to remove the womb and eventually died. It is possible Poppy had it but there was no icky discharge so I really don't know.

It can occur in females regardless of them ever having a litter.

[Mollz Mum]

Thanks IAP. Don't like the sound of that.

[I_am_plankton]

It really is horrible and traumatic for the poor hamster. They get stressed having to have oral baytril which I think makes them poorlier because they are getting upset over it.

I think if it happened again and was as severe, I would probably choose to PTS rather than putting anything through that again.

Also it is very messy and upsetting to have to clean up

[Mollz Mum]

Yes, if it's at all distressing to the poor hammy, I would PTS too, as hard as it is, sometimes it's the best option. I hope it's not something we ever have to experience though.

[Bourne Valley Hams]

With a closed pyometra, which seems to be the most common, you often don't notice there is a problem until it becomes quite severe. I have only, thankfully very rarely, had it occur in elderly females, so no question of putting them through surgery. Generally, in an old lady, they go downhill pretty quickly and antibiotics only seem to delay the inevitable. I prefer to let them go rather than see them suffer.

[Bunsey]

My hamster had it. i didn't know anything was wrong. i thought she was fat so i put her on a diet. Then i went to clean the cage out one Sunday afternoon (usually clean syrians at night) and she was bleeding. I took her to the vet and chose to have her PTS because anti-biotics probably wouldn't have worked and she would have suffered.

Saturday night i played with my little girl and Sunday she was dead.

[Matty Day]

is this disease syrian only hamster lopedia dosent say

[Bunsey]

don't think so. Anything with a womb can have it. humans included.

[Mollz]

Originally Posted by Bunsey

don't think so. Anything with a womb can have it. humans included.

Yes, alot of other animals can suffer with it too. I've never heard of a human having it, but i guess it must be possible.